Pacemaker and blood thinners

[tu3lip]

I may soon have to have a pacemaker implanted.  I have a 1 cm cavernous angioma deep in the right hemisphere of the cerebellum.  I've been told there's a 4%-6% annual chance of the angioma bleeding on its own.  Is it required that blood thinners be given when a pacemaker is in place?  How does one evaluate the risk of clot formation without blood thinners versus the risk of bleeding in the brain when on blood thinners?  A neurosurgeon told me that blood thinners were definitely out.  Is an eventual stroke then my only option?  

[Mom2four85]

I have a PM/ICD combo and haven't taken any blood thinners, but my father in law has a pm/icd also and takes Coumadin.  I know when he's on it, he has to be extremely careful with not getting scrapes or cuts and calling the dr if certain symptoms happen [can't remember specifics atm, but i'll ask].

Def discuss all options with your dr's.

[ksig]

I have a pacer and I am on coumadin because I also have AFib.  If I did not, I would not be on coumadin.

[Jerry_NJ]

I don't have the numbers for a Pacemaker, in fact I didn't know they require clot formation  mitigation. Are you sure they do?  Discuss with your Cardiologist.  He/she can also give you any risk factors/numbers.

My recollection is that permanent atrial fibrillation if untreated with a blood thinner increases the risk of a stroke by slightly lower numbers, around 2-3% annual chance, cumulative I believe.  That is roughly a 20-30% risk in 10 years.  Again I do not propose this applies to a pacemaker, but give as a related reference.  I do take warfarin, but I do not have any unusual bleeding risks.